1. References to “gold” in The Outsiders so far…
Soda has “dark-gold” hair that turns “wheat-gold” in the summer. (Pg. 7 and 8)
Mickey Mouse (Soda’s horse) was a “dark-gold” buckskin. (Pg. 39)
Ponyboy- “My mother was golden and beautiful.” (Pg. 48)
Sunrise- The horizon was a thin “golden” line. (Pg. 77)
Sunrise- The clouds changed from gray to pink, and the mist was touched with “gold.” (Pg. 77)

2. Chapter 5 Comprehension Q’s
1. When Pony wakes up, why is he alone? What does Johnny bring back?
2. What do the boys do to disguise themselves? Why is Pony so reluctant to do anything with his hair?
3. How did the boys show their feelings as emotion overcame them? Do you think their behavior was in character or did it deviate from the image the writer was trying to create? Explain.
4. How do they pass the time over the next few days? What do they eat?
5. Why does Ponyboy get sick on the fifth day at the church?
6. What does Dally bring to Ponyboy from Sodapop? What does Pony learn from it about Darry‘s feelings?
7. How did Dally mislead the police?
8. Where do they go in Buck‘s car?
9. When Dally says that his heater sure does help a bluff. What does he mean?
10. Who is the spy Dally speaks of?

3. Chapter 6 Questions
What did Johnny tell Dally? What did Dally tell Johnny in response?
Did Johnny’s parents ask about him? Why or why not?
Why did Ponyboy and Johnny run inside the burning church?
What “other side” of Dally is revealed in this chapter?
Why do you think Johnny wasn’t scared?
Why did Dally hit Ponyboy?
What did Ponyboy realize about Darry? What was Darry’s “silent fear”?

4. Chapter 6 Analysis
Cherry's willingness to clue the greasers in on Soc activity shows her to be in a kind of limbo. She is no longer affiliating herself as a Soc, but instead is watching them as an outsider. However, the gang definitely does not consider her to be a greaser, because she is merely reporting to them to prevent any more fights between the rival groups. This existence, not being affiliated with one group or another, can be a scary one. It is especially frightening to adolescents who use the group mentality as a barometer of their own self worth. However, sometimes it is necessary to step outside of one's own comfort zone to stand up for an issue in which you believe. This is what Cherry is doing: Tired of the fighting and the gang mentality, she attempts to resolve the many perceived differences that separate the two groups.
This turn in Cherry's personality in some ways more closely aligns her with Dally. Dally is a greaser, but he is the most outcast of the group. He is the only one who has ever been in serious trouble, and he is the only one whom everyone in the group, including Darry, is afraid of: "Not even Darry wanted to tangle with him. He was dangerous," Ponyboy remembered.

5. Hinton describes Dally's hair as "white"-blond" a good color for someone who could be an outsider from all groups. White contains all of the visible rays of the color spectrum. It is a crossover color that cannot be affiliated with anyone. If Hinton were to write a sequel using Dally and Cherry, it would be easy to draw an analogy between them and Romeo and Juliet. Both couples are teenagers who come from different worlds. Romeo and Juliet deal with feuding families who oppose their relationship, and Dally and Cherry battle opposing gangs.

6. The perception that the three boys are heroes goes beyond gang lines
The perception that the three boys are heroes goes beyond gang lines. (The power of three is a theme that is prevalent throughout Western literature.) Three greasers, whom Bob had defined as "white trash with long hair," seemingly defy all stereotypes and risk their lives to save some children. This is a concept that Ponyboy thought no one could believe. Ponyboy explains the events to Jerry Wood — from the drive-in theatre, to the killing, to their escape — but Wood does not change his perception of the bravery displayed by Johnny, Pony, and Dally. Ponyboy notes of Wood, "He didn't seem to mind our being hoods."

7. The most important revelation in this chapter is Ponyboy's redefinition of his family. From talking with both Dally and Johnny, Ponyboy realizes how lucky he is to have two brothers — not just gang-member brothers, but two real brothers. Pony internally admits that he loves them both even if they aren't always the way he wants them to be.
He understands that he is lucky compared to Johnny, who relies on the gang to be his brothers and serve as his only family because his parents don't care about him: "Darry and Sodapop were my brothers and I loved both of them, even if Darry did scare me; but not even Soda could take Mom and Dad's place. And they were my real brothers, not just sort of adopted ones."

8. In the hospital, when Pony, Darry, and Soda reunite, this new appreciation of his brothers is tested. Ponyboy demonstrates no hesitation in showing his love for Soda when he arrives at the hospital, but he initially stands off from Darry. It isn't until Pony sees Darry crying that the love for his brother triggers a moment of enlightenment: "In that second what Soda and Dally and Two-Bit had been trying to tell me came through." Now Pony understands that Darry had been trying too hard in his new role of guardian and protector.
Pony realizes that Darry really does care. Pony is able to go to Darry and hug him, just like he hugged Soda. This love that he feels from and for his brothers makes everything all right. The three brothers are united as a family, a source of strength to all of them.

9. Summary: Chapter 7
The reporters and police interview Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry in the hospital waiting room. Sodapop jokes with the reporters and hospital staff, keeping the mood light with his antics. The doctors finally emerge and say that Dally will be fine but that Johnny’s back was broken when the roof caved in. Even if Johnny survives, they add, he will be permanently crippled.
The next morning, Ponyboy is making breakfast when Steve Randle and Two-Bit come in with the morning papers. The papers portray Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally as heroes for rescuing the schoolchildren. They also mention Ponyboy’s excellent performance on the track team and in school. The papers mention that the state will charge Johnny with manslaughter and send both Ponyboy and Johnny to juvenile court, from which Ponyboy might be sent to a boys’ home. Ponyboy tells them he had his recurring nightmare—which first occurred on the night of his parents’ funeral—the previous night. He never remembers the dream, but it makes him wake up in intense panic.

10. Chapter 7 Comprehension Questions
1. Describe what Soda is doing while the police are trying to interview Ponyboy.
2. What is the extent of Johnny‘s injuries? How are the boys able to get the doctor to tell them of Johnny‘s prognosis?
3. Why do the Curtis boys always leave their door unlocked?
4. What does the newspaper say about the ―heroes‖? What does Two-Bit have to say about the wording the reporter chose?
5. Recount the story of Pony‘s recurring dream.
6. What has happened to Soda‘s girlfriend, Sandy? Why?
7. From Randy and Ponyboy’s discussion, what did you learn about the privileged class to which the Socs belong? How do you think some people come to feel entitlement?
8. Randy says, ―You get a little money and the whole world hates you.‖ Pony replies, ―No, you hate the whole world.‖ Which of these statements, in your opinion, is true? Explain your answer.

11. Chapter 8 Comprehension Questions
1. What do you think the doctor means when he says to the nurse, “Let them go in. He‘s been asking for them. It can‘t hurt now?”
2. Why does Johnny really want to live?
3. When the nurse announces to Johnny that his mother is there to see him, how does he react? When Two-Bit and Ponyboy see Johnny‘s mother, what happens? How do they react?
4. When Dally asks Two-Bit about his fancy black-handled switch, what do you think was his reason for asking? Why do you think Two-Bit hands it over to him without hesitation‖?
5. Pony had a sick feeling in his stomach about the rumble that night. Infer what you think he was worried about.
6. Cherry tells Ponyboy about the kind of person Bob really was. How does she describe him?
7. Cherry says about Bob, “He could be sweet sometimes, and friendly. But when he got drunk…it was that part of him that beat up Johnny.”‖ Explain the differences between reason and excuse. Do you believe that if someone has been drinking, it is an excuse, or is it a reason, for inappropriate behavior? Try to use examples in your answer.